CIVICS & ECONOMICS –STATE FINAL EXAM REVIEW

OVERVIEW

The NC State Final Exam will be given to all students taking Civics & Economics in NC. The exam is divided into two sections, and students will have 120 Minutes to complete both sections. Below you will find a breakdown of the NC State Final Exam.

Sections

1)Multiple Choice – 41 Questions. The questions will evaluate student understanding of content and application. Students should be aware of overall themes of each unit, as well as important vocabulary, and how these terms relate to the unit essential questions.

2)Constructed Response – 2 Items. These questions will evaluate student ability to draw from knowledge that applies to the questions, and explain how this applies to the question.

Principles of American Democracy

How does conflict lead to government change?

Concepts to Know

  • Power
  • Government
  • Change
  • Conflict

Vocabulary

1)Types of Government & Enlightenment

  • Democracy – (Direct/Representative)
  • Authoritarian – (Monarchy, Dictatorship)
  • English Government (Roots of US Democracy)

Magna Carta

Constitutional Monarchy

Parliament

Common Law

  • Enlightenment

John Locke – Natural Rights, purpose of government

Montesquieu – Separation of Power (3 Branches)

2)Colonial Period

  • Motivations

England = Wealth (cheap raw materials)

Colonists = Freedom – Religious & Political, Economic Opportunity

  • Colony
  • Mercantilism
  • Salutary Neglect
  • House of Burgesses (Representative Democracy)
  • Mayflower Compact (Direct Democracy)
  • 13 Colonial Governments – 3 Branches of Government

3)Revolutionary Period

  • French & Indian War – End of Salutary Neglect
  • Taxation – Examples of Taxes passed by Parliament
  • Restriction of Rights – Examples of Laws passed by Parliament
  • 1st & 2nd Continental Congress
  • Common Sense

4)Declaration of Independence

  • Thomas Jefferson
  • Purpose of Government (Influenced by John Locke)
  • Grievances

5)Articles of Confederation

  • 1 branch of Government – Congress – Voting (1per state)
  • Weak Central Government – No power to tax, enforce laws, etc…
  • Strong State Governments – 3 Branches
  • Problems = Debt, France/England, Shay’s Rebellion

6)Constitutional Convention & Ratification of the Constitution

  • Virginia Plan (Big States)
  • New Jersey Plan (Small States)
  • 3/5 Compromise
  • Great Compromise
  • Federalists – The need for a stronger central government.
  • Anti-Federalists – Fear strong central government. (British Experience) Need for a Bill of Rights

7)Constitutional Principles

  • Flexibility

Amendments

Necessary & Proper Clause

Court Decisions (Loose & Strict Interpretation)

  • Popular Sovereignty
  • Rule of Law
  • Separation of Power
  • Checks & Balances
  • Federalism

Enumerated Powers

Reserved Powers

Concurrent Powers

  • Supremacy Clause

Practice Constructed Response

The United States Constitution created a government known as Federalism. Explain the system of Federalism and explain how the experience as colonies under British rule, and the 1st Constitution - The Articles of Confederation led to the establishment of Federalism.

Structure & Function of Federalism

How do democracies attempt to balance power & authority?

Concepts to Know

  • Authority
  • Structure
  • Balance
  • Democracy

Vocabulary

1)Federalism, Separation of Power, Checks & Balances

  • Federalism

Enumerated Powers (define & examples)

Reserved Powers (define & examples)

Concurrent Powers (define & examples)

  • Separation of Power

Legislative Branch (make the law)

Executive Branch (enforce the law)

Judicial Branch (interpret the law)

  • Checks & Balances (define & examples)

2)Federal Government

  • 3 Branches of Government (Know for Each)

Purpose & Powers

Structure

  • Congress

Bicameral (2 Houses), Representation in Each

How a Bill Becomes a Law

Power to Tax

Necessary & Proper Clause

  • President

Roles of the President

  • Supreme Court

3 Levels of Courts

Judicial Review – Marbury v Madison, Interpret the Constitution

  • Supremacy Clause (Supreme Law of the Land)

3)State Government

  • 3 Branches of Government

Purpose & Powers

Structure

  • General Assembly

Bicameral (2 Houses), Representation in Each

How a Bill Becomes a Law

  • Governor
Roles of the Governor
  • Supreme Court

4 Levels of Court

Interpret the NC Constitution

4)Local Government

  • County Government

2 Branches (Council & County Manager

  • Municipal Government

2 Branches (Mayor/Council Plan, Council/Manager Plan)

Practice Constructed Response

The United States has both a national government and 50 state governments. Each of these governments includes a separation of powers within the government. Explain this separation of power, and explain the function of each part.

Resolving Conflict

Why is resolving conflict an important part of government?

Concepts to Know

  • Conflict
  • Resolution

Vocabulary

1)Political Parties

  • Political Ideology – Liberal, Conservative
  • Party Systems (One Party, Two Party, Multi-Party)
  • Democrats
  • Republicans
  • 3rd Parties

2)Public Opinion & Mass Media

  • Measures of Public Opinion – polls
  • Media – Print & Electronic
  • Interest Groups (PACs & Lobbyists)

3)Voting & Elections

  • Suffrage – Suffrage Amendments
  • Register, Polling Place, Exit Polls
  • Primary Election – Political Parties Choose Candidates
  • General Election – Voters decide who holds office
  • Special Elections - Recall, Initiatives, Proposition, Referendum

4)Campaigns & Financing

  • PACs
  • Campaign Finance Reform
  • Citizens United (Supreme Court Case)
  • Advertising & Propaganda Techniques

5)Passing & Enforcing Laws

  • How a Bill Becomes a Law

Sponsor

Committees

Voting

Presidential Veto & Process to Override Veto

  • Executive Agencies – Enforce the Law

Examples & Purpose

  • Executive Departments – Cabinet

Practice Constructed Response

The United States is considered a Two Party System even though there are more than 2 political parties. Why is the US considered a Two Party System, and explain the difference between the two political parties.

Citizenship

How does civic involvement shape American Democracy?

Concepts to Know

  • Identity
  • Duty
  • Responsibility

Vocabulary

1)Citizenship

  • Civics, Citizen, Citizenship
  • Rights, Duties, Responsibilities
  • E pluribus unum
  • Immigrant/Alien
  • Naturalization
  • Denaturalization & Expatriation

2)Amendments

  • Bill of Rights – Identify important aspects in each.

1st Amendment - Free Exercise Clause, Establishment Clause

  • Suffrage Amendments – Right to Vote (15,19,23,24,26)
  • Civil War Amendments (13,14,15)

3)Supreme Court Cases (at least) – Review PowerPoint from Unit 4

  • Marbury v Madison, Plessy v Ferguson, Brown v Board of Ed, Miranda v Arizona, Tinker v Des Moines, Gideon v Wainwright

Practice Constructed Response

Explain one amendment in the Bill of Rights. Explain one Supreme Court Case that dealt with that Amendment, and how it defined or changed the freedom guaranteed in this Amendment.

The Law & You

How do laws ensure rights and protections for individuals in the United States?

Concepts to Know

  • Rights
  • Protections

Vocabulary

1)Sources & Types of Law

  • Code of Hammurabi, Roman Law, English Law
  • Criminal Law – misdemeanor, felony
  • Civil Law – Law Suit
  • Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Statutory Law

2)The American Legal System

  • Writ of Habeas Corpus, Bills of Attainder, Ex Post Facto Laws
  • 4th Amendment – Search Warrant
  • 5th Amendment – 5 Protections
  • 6th Amendment, 7th Amendment
  • 8th Amendment – Cruel & Unusual Punishment, Bail
  • 14th Amendment – Equal Protection

3)Civil Case

  • Plaintiff, Defendant
  • Process of a Civil Case

4)Criminal Case

  • Prosecution (Government), Defendant (accused)
  • Process of a Criminal Case

Practice Constructed Response

United States citizens are provided certain protections from government interference in their lives. Explain (2) Amendments that protect the people from the government. For each amendment, explain one way it specifically protects citizens from the government.

The Free Market & The Role of Government

Why are individual choice and competition important in a free market economy?

Concepts to Know

  • Competition
  • Choices

Vocabulary

1)Basic Economics & Economic Systems

  • Economics, scarcity
  • Productivity, division of labor, specialization
  • Trade-off, opportunity cost
  • 3 Basic Economic Questions
  • 4 Factors of Production
  • Economic Systems (Command, Market, Mixed, Traditional)
  • Mixed Market Economy – Characteristics of US Economic System

2)Supply & Demand

  • Law of Supply & Demand
  • Equilibrium or Market Price
  • Shortage, Surplus
  • Factors that Affect or Change Supply & Demand

3)Business, Competition, & Labor

  • Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, Corporation
  • 2 Reasons Competition is Important (Low Prices, Better Quality)
  • Monopoly, Perfect & Imperfect Competition
  • Unskilled, semiskilled, skilled, & professional workers
  • Labor Unions

4)Business Cycle, Monetary Policy, & Fiscal Policy

  • Expansion, contraction, recession
  • Economic indicators – (GDP, unemployment, etc…)
  • Monetary Policy (Loose & Tight) – Federal Reserve

3 Tools of the Federal Reserve

2 Economic Problems (Inflation, Recession)

  • Fiscal Policy – Taxing & Spending

Federal Budget & National Debt

Major Federal Taxes & Expenditures

Major State Taxes & Expenditures

Major Local Taxes & Expenditures

Practice Constructed Response

The United States Government is in control of fiscal policy and monetary policy. Explain what each of are, and provide a specific example of how these can influence the economy.

Trade

Why has interdependence led to globalization?

Concepts to Know

  • Interdependence
  • Globalization

Vocabulary

1)International Trade

  • Import, export
  • Free trade – Reasons to support
  • Trade Restrictions – tariff, quota, embargo

2)Globalization & The United Nations

  • Developed Countries (1st World)
  • Developing Countries (2nd World)
  • Underdeveloped Countries (3rd World)
  • Issues w/ Globalization – environment, human rights
  • United Nations – International Political, Economic, & Social Issues

Practice Constructed Response

Many countries throughout the world are working together to create fewer limitations to trading with one another. This movement known as globalization has both positive and negative consequences. Explain what it means to try to reduce barriers to trade. Explain one positive and one negative to free trade.

Personal Financial Literacy

How is sound decision making related to financial responsibility and risk?

Concepts to Know

  • Decision Making
  • Risk
  • Responsibility

Vocabulary

1)Personal Financial Planning & Goals

  • Education, income, career
  • Budget

Income – Gross Pay, Net Pay

Expenses

  • Retirement

2)Saving & Investing

  • Accounts (Savings, Checking, CD, Money Market)
  • Interest, Compound Interest, Rule of 72
  • Stocks, Bonds, Mutual Funds (Type of Investor & Investment)

3)Credit

  • Credit, Credit Card, Credit Score
  • Interest, Compound Interest

4)Consumer Protection

  • Consumer Protection Laws
  • Government Regulation
  • Insurance (Medical, Life)

Practice Constructed Response

In terms of personal finance, interest can be both a positive and negative. Identify when interest is a negative to an individual, and provide a specific example. Identify when interest is a positive to an individual, and provide a specific example.